Shelf



Feb. 14, 1939.

H. c. FOSTER SHELF Filed May 27, 193'? ff-N0 I. Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES SHELF Harry C. Foster, Connersville, Ind., assigner to Rex Manufacturing Company, Inc.,

diana Connersville, Ind., a corporation of In Application May 27, 1937, serial No. 145,100 'z claim.' (ci. 31a-112) 'I'his invention relates to shelf construction, and particularly to shelves and like supporting structure adapted to be suspended from the inner walls or lining of refrigerator and like cabinets; and

| the primary object of the same is to provide a shelf supporting Ameans which enables a shelf to be' easily and quicklyl applied to and removed from its supporting wall in a refrigerator compartment or the like and which at the same time requires no slides, hooks or like attachments or projecting parts in or on the wall, is strong and rugged yet remarkably simple in construction and low in cost of manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a number of racks or shelves and supporting means therefor constructed in accord- I ance with the features of the present invention installed in the food compartment of a refrigerator cabinet, the latter being shown in front elevation with the door open;

Fig. 2 is a top plan-view of one of the shelves or racks of Fig. 1 removed from the cabinet;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken through the refrigerator liner or wall at the point of installation of the improved shelf with the adjacent shelf structure shown in plan;

3o Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but in transverse vertical section, particularly showing the manner in which the shelf may be applied or removed;

Fig. 5 shows a number of shelves or traps and baskets installed in a supplemental refrigerator door compartment, or what is commonly. termed in the trade a Conservador;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a refrigerator cabinet is generally indicated at C, the door for the cabinet at D, and the food compartment at F. The food compartment is provided with shelves or racks I0 for supporting articles to be refrigerated, and the present invention is concerned with themeans whereby these shelves are suspended from the inner wall or liner Il of the cabinet.

The improved supporting means comprises combined bracket and latch bolt members I2, I2' and I3 and I3' which are arranged in coacting pairs on opposite sides of the rack. First con- Y sidering the members I2 and I2', these members are of identical construction, each preferably be- 1118 siven an angular shape with one end suitably secured as by welding to the outer frame bar of the shelf. It will be understood however, that the bracket I2 could be connected to the shelf in any suitable manner or made integral with the shelf or one of the bars which makeup the lat- 5 ter. Each of the combined bracket and latch bolt members ls provided with a spring I4, and the bend or radius given to the bracket is preferably such as will retain the spring in position thereon without additional retaining means. A radius or 10 bend approaching that shown in the drawing has been found satisfactory. This construction facilitates removal and replacement of the springs for cleaningand other purposes. v

'Ihe members I3 and I3 may be and preferably l are of substantially the same shape as the mem bers I2 except in this instance no latch spring is required.

Sockets or latch bolt-holes I5 are provided for the members I2, I2 and I3, I3', these being lo- 20 cated in opposed side walls of the cabinet or other compartment in which the shelves may be mounted.

A number of methods may be adopted in providing sockets for the latch bolt or pin extremity 25 of the supporting brackets. In the example illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the liner II is pierced to receive the socket member which is separate from the liner. The socket may be and preferably is provided with a flange 30 or collar I 6 which nts snugly against the liner and seals and protects the latter. If desired, the flange or collar I6 could be replaced by a separate washer or grommet of rubber or other suitable material which would serve as a cushioning 35 means and eliminate rattle in addition to its protective function.

Another method of forming the sockets would be to provide embossed portions or bosses on the liner or depressions or indentations, instead of ,lo piercing the liner. Since such constructions are obvious they have not been illustrated in the drawing.

Fig. 4 shows the manner in which the improved shelf is applied to or removed from the 45 refrigerator compartment. 'I'he socket I5 is of such depth as to provide a certain amount of clearance, note particularly Fig. 3 in conjunction with Fig. 4. The shelf is moved laterally, compressing spring Il, until the brackets I3, I3' clear 50 their sockets.. The shelf may be replaced by'reversing this procedure, springs I4 being compressed until the brackets I3 enter their sockets,

after which the springs function to hold the shelf snugly against the side of the compartment. v 55 outwardly as at i8 to limit the movement of the tray when the latter is urged laterally by the t action of the springs I4 and ensure centering of the tray in the compartment.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a plurality of trays or baskets 22. 22' and 23 applied to a separate compartment member 20 hinged to the door of the refrigerator and commonly known in trade as the Conservador. In this instance, lthe side walls of the compartment are formed with a series of holes 2l which provide sockets for combined bracket and latch pin or bolt memberslq I2a, IIb and I3a, lab. In this'instance, also. the brackets on each side of the shelf are of one-piece construction or are yoke shaped. and engage beneath a pair of cross bars. 'I'hese yokeshaped brackets may be detachable or they may be constructed to engage the tray under friction or clamping pressure, or welded as in the first described type. Since it is not necessary to seal the wall of the conservador 20 against leakage of air, the socket-forming operation may be simplified. The operation of installing and removing the shelf is the same in this instance as in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

'I'he ease in which the shelf may be applied or removed is obvious as are also the advantages incident to a shelf of this type. The construction is simple and when the shelf is removed there are no projecting hooks, slides, runners or 'the like to hinder the cleaning operation. Furthermore, a shelf supported in this maner, upon being removed from or replaced in the refrigerator compartment can be given a horizontal,

vertical or any other desired movement once the bracket members are free of their sockets.

It will be understood that certain changes in structure and design may be adopted within the scope of the invention as described by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a cabinet having a compartment and a wall defining said compartment, a shelf or analogous supporting structure having oppositely disposed combined bracket and latch bolt members for supporting the shelf from said wall, the bracket on one side of the shelf being provided with a coil spring cooperating with an adjacent wall and acting through the shelf to normally urge its opposed coacting bracket into socketengaging position, the bracket carrying the spring being curved at an are or radius such as will retain the spring thereon.

2. Shelf supporting means including, in combination with walls from which the shelf is suspended, a plurality of brackets each of which is rigidly connected at one end to the shelf and movable with the latter and at its opposite end projects free with the free end serving as a latch pin or bolt, said walls being provided with sockets and said brackets being disposed on opposite sides of the shelf with a bracket on one side of the shelf provided with resilient means cooperating with anadjacent wall and acting through the shelf to normally urge the opposed bracket into socket-engaging position.

3. Shelf supporting means including, in combination with walls from which the shelf is suspended, brackets connected at one end to the shelf and movable with'the latter and at their opposite ends projecting free with the free ends serving as latch pins or bolts, said walls being K y Lamianto I :v nde-med. the outer :mme ser or the my' u vadiacentthe brackets it and I? may be curved providedw'itn sockets une. ma" brackets bem: disposed on opposite `sides ofthe shelf with a bracket on one side of the shelf provided with `resilient means with an adjacent wall and acting through the shelf to normally urge the opposed bracket into socket-engagingv position, the sockets being of such depth as to provide end clearance whereby the shelf may be moved laterally to cause the brackets to clear their sockets during shelf applying and removing.

operations.

4. Shelf supporting means including, in combination with walls from which the shelf is suspended, brackets connected at one end to the shelf and movable with the latter and at their opposite ends projecting free with the free ends serving as latch pins or bolts, said walls being l provided with sockets and said brackets being disposed on opposite sides of the shelf with a bracket on one side of the shelf provided with resilient means cooperating with an adjacent wall and acting through the shelf to normally urge the opposed bracket into socket-engaging position, the sockets being of such depth as to provide end clearance wherebythe shelf may be moved laterally to cause the brackets to clear their sockets during shelf applying and removing operations, and means limiting lateral movement of the shelf.

5. In a refrigerator cabinet having a food compartment and a wall constituting a, liner for said compartment, a shelf or rack for supporting articles to be refrigerated, said shelf including a frame bar having connected thereto oppositely disposed combined suspension and latch bolt brackets whose free ends project into sockets formed in said wall, the bracket or brackets on one side of said shelf being provided with a spring cooperating with an adjacent wall and acting through the shelf to urge its opposed bracket into socket engaging position, said frame bar being formed with an outwardly bent portion limiting lateral movement of the shelf.

6. In a refrigerator cabinet havinga food compartment and a wall constituting a. liner for said compartment, a shelf or rack for supporting articles to be refrigerated, said shelf including a frame bar having connected thereto oppositely disposed combined suspension and latch bolt brackets whose free ends project into sockets formed in said wall, the bracket or brackets on one side of said shelf being provided with a coil spring adapted to urge its opposed bracket into socket engaging position, said spring brackets being bent at an angle such as will automatically retain the springs thereon.

'7. In a refrigerator cabinet having a. food compartment and a wall constituting a liner for said compartment, a shelf or rack for supporting articles to be refrigerated, said shelf including a frame bar having connected thereto oppositely disposed combined suspension and latch bolt brackets whose free ends project into sockets 

